The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-10-12
THE MATES REWARD.

The crimson light of the rising sun fell
upon the face of Mary Burlyille, the cap
tain's pretty daughter as she came up
from the cabin Of the merchant ship
Cameron, becalmed off the coast of Peru
The girl had Just completed her morning
toilet, and there was one youthful sailor
aboard who fancied he had never seen a
lovelier object than this Young woman of
seventeen, The sailor alluded 10 was
Thomas Rollins, sfine-looking intelligent
seaman of twenty, who now stood at the
wheel
For an instant Mary had glanced to-
ward him, and blushed a. she bade him
good-morning, then she walked TO the
rail and fixed her gaze upon an old
whaleship which was in plain sight, not
a league off the quarter. Rollins had po-
litely responded to her salutaIion, then
sad look had fallen on his manly face
In brief, the young man loved the cap
tains daughter, but he could have enter
tained no hope of ever making her his
wife, even had he known that his ailec-
ton was returned.
The girl and he were born in the same
village, where, for awhile, they had been
playmates in childhood. Then they were
separated by the captains moving to a
distant seaport town. 4 few years iter
the failure OF his father in business had
induced the boy TO undertake sea voy-
age. He continued 10 pursue the calling
Of sailor, and finally meeting Captain
Burlville, he had shipped aboard his YES
sci.
Burlville, however, had at once dis
oouraged any renewal Of the old friend
ship between his daughter and Rollins.
have nothing against YOU, of course,
he said to the latter but as you and she
are now man and woman il is better that
You should keep apart, a. YOU would new
er be more to each other than mere ac-
quaintancesr
When he also gave mis- instructions TO
Mary on the same subject she pouted and
wept. for SHE had always liked Rollins as
little boy. and she had not failed 10 no
tice that he was going to be sturdy,
handsome young. fellow. with frank.
pleasant manners that pleased her
"a | think YOU very unreasonable. papa.
she sobbed. 1t is because he is fore
most hand that YOU object to him"
An ounce Of prevention il better than
pound of cure he said. would not
have you fall in love and marry any one
les than a mate or a captain, who would
be able 10 provide for YOU better than a
poor foremost hand
Why not make Rollins mate. then p
said Mary, looking up shyly through her
tears.
Well. well, he may become an officer
in time; but he has his way to work VI
True, he i very clever as ii is, and as 4 9
has knowledge of navigation, he would
perhaps. make good mate"
why don't you promote him, if that
is the case
In the first place there is no vacancy
here. Then again, | don't believe in
lifting young fellow up to "a position ali
at once Let him gradually work hi.
way 10 il as have done. The best ear
do is TO recommend him to some shir
owner"
But You own this ship. You could
make him mate Of yours," she said
She coaxed him and pleaded with him
50 earnestly, that u, last he said he weld
think about IT. Ii Rollins should prove
himself more prompt and true in perform.
ing his duties than the other sailors. he
the captain, might take him for his mate
in the course Of time.
Now, as the girl locked ever the rail
on this bright morning, she thought oI
her fathers promise II was pleasant
thought in her, and her blooming checks
were dimpled with smiles, while he